David Branter

MUSIC DIRECTOR

David Branter performs as both a classical and jazz saxophonist. His virtuosic solo and ensemble performances highlight and promote new and classic music for saxophone. He performed the world premiere of John Oliver's Cha$e the Money in Minneapolis and performed the Canadian premiere with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. In July, 2005, David gave the world premiere of Fred Stride's tenor saxophone concerto, Caverns, with Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble at the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles conference in Singapore.

As soprano saxophonist with the saxophone quartet Saxophilia, Branter as premiered works by John Burke and has performed a full program for Vancouver New Music. Moving between musical styles with facility, Brander and Saxophilia are preparing a program of French classics to be performed at the University of British Columbia. David peforms regularly with jazz groups led by Alan Matheson, and is featured on that composer's CD Intrada. He also performs as the lead saxophonist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. A recent jazz highlight featured David as lead saxophone and soloist in a concert devoted to the music of Phil Nimmons, where Nimmons also performed.

An enthusiastic and respected educator, David is saxphone instructor and director of jazz ensembles at Vancouver Community College. In 2005, David was invited as guest artist/lecturer to the Eugene Rousseau Saxphone Master Class at the University of Minnesota. He is also a conductor, concert and jazz band clinician, and woodwind adjudicator. Branter directed and produced three CD's with Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and was Music Direcotr of that group until 2000.

Activity as a composer has recently begun to have importance for David Branter, with Cool premiering with Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble in February 2007.